Some crustous fibrillous fungus on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 13, 2017
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) on a birch tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Fungus (mushrooms) Phellinus laevigatus on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Birch trees and logs in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 30, 2009
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 3, 2018
Group of birch trees on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch trees of Karasiovoe Lake in northern area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 24, 2015
Birch trees on a meadow near Kanneliarvi, 40 miles north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2005
Birch trees on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch trees in eastern part of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch trees from Listvennaya Alley in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch trees along Krasnogo Bugra Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 31, 2015
Cluster of elm oyster mushrooms (Hypsizygus ulmarius, Lyophyllum ulmarium) on a birch tree between Orekhovo and Lembolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 28, 2016
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 20, 2016
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 1, 2016
Jelly rot fungus (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Birch trees on Krasnogo Bugra Alley in Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, April 6, 2017
Crust tinder fungus Phellinus(?) on a birch tree in area of Dibuny - Pesochny, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 3, 2017
Birch trees in eastern part of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch and mountain ash trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 31, 2009
Birch tree on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch trees near Lamsky Pavilion in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013
Birch tree stand on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 28, 2015
Malformed trunk of a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Spreading fungus (mushrooms) Phellinus laevigatus on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Birch trees in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 14, 2011
Birch trees in eastern part of Sosnovka Park at morning. Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 9, 2007
Several birch trees on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch trees on Laskovy Beach of Gulf of Finland in Solnechoe, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 15, 2017
Birch trees on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, March 24, 2017
Birch trees from Listvennaya Alley in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch trees near Red Bugor Alley and Tyarlevskaya Cutting in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2015
Birch trees in fog near northern end of Beloe Lake in Gatchina, a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 27, 2015
Birch trees of Krasnogo Bugra Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 31, 2015
Golden scalycap mushrooms (Pholiota aurivella) on a birch tree near Kavgolovskoe Lake south from Oselki, 8 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 23, 2015
Birch trees of Krasnodolinnaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2015
Snowy birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 25, 2016
Iron wire grown inside a birch tree west from Dibuny - Pesochny area near Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 4, 2017
Green alga Trentepohlia umbrina with orange carotenoid pigments and moss on a birch tree west from Dibuny - Pesochny area near Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 4, 2017
Thin crust of fungus (mushrooms) Phellinus laevigatus on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park at morning. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 6, 2016
Fall colors of birch trees near Staroshaleynaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 17, 2013
Birch trees of Krasnodolinnaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 18, 2015
Road with birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch trees on Krasnodolinnaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 31, 2015
Fall foliage of birch trees on Laskovy Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2013
Birch tree log damaged by insect larvae in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 15, 2013
Catkins on a birch like tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 14, 2011
Stones and birch trees in Urochishche Teterevskoe place near Lembolovo, 45 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 27, 2013
View of a birch tree in valley of Slavianka River from Eleninskaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 17, 2013
Road and birch trees east from Leypyasuo. North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 7, 2014
Birch trees from Staroshaleynaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 19, 2015
Birch trees of Red Bugor Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2015
Birch trees near Tyarlevskaya Cutting in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2015
Birch trees near Red Bugor Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2015
Birch trees in a forest west from railroad in Otdelny Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 26, 2015
Birch trees in Sylvia area in Gatchina, a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 27, 2015
Birch trees near Nesterova Street in Gatchina, a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 27, 2015
Fall colors of birch trees behind the war monument in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2015
Birch trees on Mariyinskaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 31, 2015
Birch trees of Mariyinskaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 6, 2016
Tree fringewort (Ptilidium pulcherrimum)(?) on a birch in Zakhodskoe, 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 10, 2016
Green flat moss-like plant tree fringewort (Ptilidium pulcherrimum)(?) spreading on a birch in Zakhodskoe, 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 10, 2016
Pear-shaped puffball mushrooms (Lycoperdon pyriforme) shaped like pointed eggs on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 23, 2016
Elm oyster mushrooms (Hypsizygus ulmarius, Lyophyllum ulmarium) on a birch tree between Orekhovo and Lembolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 28, 2016
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 29, 2016
A tree cut by beavers in Birch Island in Gatchina Park. Gatchina, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 12, 2016
Birch trees near Lower Rozovopavilionny Pond in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 14, 2016
Birch trees of Krasnodolinnaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 14, 2016
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 25, 2016
Birch trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
Birch trees in fresh snow in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 25, 2016
Rotten polypore mushroom on a birch tree west from Dibuny - Pesochny area near Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 4, 2017
Rotten trunk of a birch tree filled by roots near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Crust of fungus (mushrooms) Phellinus laevigatus on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Texture of crust of fungus (mushrooms) Phellinus laevigatus on a birch tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 18, 2017
Willow bracket fungus (Phellinus igniarius mushrooms) on a birch tree in Yuntolovsky Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 23, 2017
Cinnamon texture of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) taken from a birch tree in Yuntolovsky Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 23, 2017
Spruce and birch trees in snow west from Kavgolovo Lake near Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 24, 2017
Moss on a birch tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Black tissue of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) on a birch tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Old jelly rot fungus (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Big jelly rot fungus (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Jelly rot fungus (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) with snow on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Decaying basidiome of jelly rot (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) with a saprobic fungus Botryobasidium subcoronatum on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Caps of jelly rot fungus (Phlebia tremellosa, Merulius tremellosus) on a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 13, 2017
Corticioid fungus on birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 23, 2017
Birch trees with snow in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2017
Birch trees at snowfall in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2017
Birch mazegill mushroom (Lenzites betulina) from a burned conifer tree near Orekhovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, April 27, 2017
Crust poroid fungus Phellinus(?) on a birch tree in area of Dibuny - Pesochny, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 3, 2017
Some crustous fungus at the base of a birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 13, 2017
Brittlestem mushrooms Psathyrella cernua (Homophron cernuum)(?) near a birch tree on the central alley in Park of Polytechnic Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2017
Birch trees of Botanicheskaya Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 27, 2017
Birch and maple trees in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 3, 2017
Birch trees in northern part of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 3, 2017
Birch trees in northern part of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 8, 2017
Snow and bent birch trees in Zakhodskoe (Lounatjoki), 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 9, 2019
Birch trees near Razliv Lake near Lenin Trail in area of Razliv, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 21, 2019
Birch trees of Krasnogo Bugra Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2016
Krasnogo Bugra Alley with birch trees in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 26, 2016
Cinnabar bracket (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus) mushrooms on a birch tree in Kuzmolovo north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 8, 2017
Birch trees in Urochishche Hianikiayze area near Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 24, 2017
Birch tree trunk filled with roots in Blizhnie Dubki area near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 26, 2017
Birch and spruce trees in a forest along the gulf in area of Lisiy Nos - Morskaya, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 26, 2017
Birch trees on Krasnogo Bugra Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 27, 2017
Birch trees near Zelionoy Zhenshchiny Alley in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 27, 2017
Birch trees in Sergievka Park. Old Peterhof, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 5, 2017
Birch woodwart (Jackrogersella multiformis) on a fallen tree near Lisiy Nos, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 17, 2018
Reflections of birch trees in sand quarry west from Kuzmolovo, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 7, 2021
Birch trees near Sahaoja (Prytkiy) Creek in a forest between Lembolovo and Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 11, 2021
Hydnoid corticioid fungus Steccherinum(?) on an old bracket polypore mushroom on a fallen birch tree in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 30, 2024
Bark of a birch tree covered by green algae in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 31, 2024
Birch trees on Laskovyi Beach in Solnechnoe, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 7, 2024
Gulf of Finland coastline, with shallow waters and glacial boulders. Behind the rocky beach, there is a zone of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), which is ubiquitous along the Neva Bay coast. The trees include Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)--the tall conifer with orange bark on the right--and Black Alder or Birch, which are typical for these damp, sandy soils. The pines here are often twisted by the strong westerly winds. Tarkhovka Park near Sestroretsk, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, October 3, 2025
Religious and symbolic narrative of sacrifice, featuring a granite monument with an elaborate engraving of a soldier ascending a staircase toward a welcoming Christ-like figure and a birch tree, blending Christian theology with Russian nationalism. The epitaph laments, "You loved life... But the thread was cut too soon," emphasizing personal loss alongside martial duty. In the background, a chaotic array of VDV (Airborne Forces) and Russian flags flies over rows of fresh, temporary graves, contrasting the permanent serenity of the foreground monument with the raw immediacy of ongoing casualties. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
Serene autumn scene at Laskovy Beach (Russian: Laskovyy Plyazh) in the settlement of Solnechnoe, located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Saint Petersburg. Laskovy Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Kurortny District of Saint Petersburg. The name "Laskovy" translates to "Affectionate" or "Tender," while the settlement name, Solnechnoe, means "Sunny". This area has a rich history as a summer resort destination; formerly known as the Finnish village of Ollila, it became a hub for St. Petersburg s intelligentsia and dacha owners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image shows a trio of birch trees with vibrant yellow and orange leaves, which is characteristic of the "Golden Autumn" season in the Leningrad Region during early-to-mid October. The golden leaves contrast strikingly with the blue sky and the dark blue waters of the Gulf. The large white concrete sphere on the sand is a landscaping feature. Russia, October 9, 2025
Graffiti series, located on the concrete retaining wall separating the beach from the promenade along the Gulf of Finland (near the Sestroretsk Resort or "Kurort" area) which is a fanciful and nostalgic mural composition featuring whimsical animals and nature motifs. This segment shows a yellow-orange cat perched comfortably on a tree branch. The surrounding trees are depicted with vertical, textured strokes, suggesting a dense birch or pine forest typical of the Karelian Isthmus. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 9, 2025
Monochromatic texture, moving away from high contrast to explore the subtle variations within a single color range. The scene is dominated by a spectrum of yellows, from the pale ochre of the birch leaves to the deep amber of the maples, creating a "wall of gold" that feels immersive and enclosing. The overlapping layers of foliage--dense understory merging into the mid-canopy--eliminate the sky, focusing the viewer entirely on the intricate, lace-like pattern of the leaves against the dark vertical trunks. The reflection in the water breaks these details into impressionistic strokes, blurring the line between the real trees and their mirrored image, much like a watercolor painting where forms dissolve into light and color. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Layered complexity of the mixed deciduous forest in Alexander Park. The image is a study in yellow, dominated by the luminous canopy of Norway maples and silver birches. The rough, dark bark of the oaks and maples provides a strong vertical rhythm that cuts through the delicate, hazy texture of the foliage. The white, paper-like bark of the birch trees adds a secondary visual accent typical of the Russian landscape. The composition includes a rich understory of turning shrubs--likely hazel or young rowan--which adds density and depth, grounding the soaring trunks in a thicket of earthy reds and browns. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Rustic, three-arched stone bridge (often referred to as the Ruin Bridge or simply the stone arch bridge) in the "Russian Switzerland" area in Oranienbaum s Upper Park. Built from rough-hewn boulders to mimic a natural or ancient ruin, it harmonizes perfectly with the wild, rugged aesthetic of the Karasta River valley. The bridge spans a small ravine or tributary, surrounded by a golden forest of birch and maple trees that soften the stone s heavy appearance with delicate autumn foliage. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
